Onishi Tetsunosuke

Onishi Tetsunosuke (大西鐡之祐; April 7, 1916 in Nara city, Nara prefecture – September 19, 1995) was a professor of Waseda University, coach of the Japan national rugby union team and Waseda University Rugby Football Club. He has been described as a Japanese Carwyn James and was a coach of considerable achievements. He also served as a member of the Japanese Olympic Committee.

Career

He played flanker at Waseda University, joining the Toshiba company on graduation. After World War Two he returned to Waseda to teach and was appointed coach of the rugby club after his elder brother. He was coach of the Japanese team from 1966 to 1971. In 1968, they defeated the Junior All Blacks in New Zealand 23-19, and lost 3-6 to England in 1971 at Chichibunomiya rugby stadium in Tokyo.

In 1981 he was appointed Waseda's coach for the third time, and the following year on a tour to France and England gained the first win over Cambridge University R.U.F.C. by a Japanese team, 13-12.